Congress opened the door for public charter school in the nation’s capital when it passed the DC School Reform Act of 1995 and all public charter schools in the District of Columbia are authorized under the DC Code. The DC Public Charter School Board is an independent body governed by the School Reform Act, which is codified in Title 38, Subtitle IV, Chapter 18. View the DC Code.

These reports give our schools, families, and communities transparent and comparable information related to equity across all DC schools.

This information is no longer released by us, the measures are available on the DC School Report Card.  

This policy establishes truancy and chronic truancy levels for DC public charter schools.

A school’s truancy rate is based on the percent of students ages 5-17 who have accrued 10 or more unexcused absences. A School should not exceed the below truancy threshold established by the DC PCSB Board:

• 30% for traditional elementary and middle schools

• 35% for traditional high schools

• 45% for DC PCSB designated "alternative" schools

The principal source of DC Public Charter School Board's (DC PCSB) revenue is a 1.0% administrative oversight fee charged to each local education agency (LEA) to cover the cost of conducting its responsibilities related to the oversight of each public charter LEA. The DC School Reform Act of 1995 allows DC PCSB to assess this fee based on each LEA's budget. Read the Administrative Fee Policy to learn more.

DC PCSB Performance Oversight Hearing Committee of the Whole and the Committee on Education

March 10, 2021

As we quickly approach the summer for students and families, DC PCSB is sharing information about each public charter school's summer programs. 122 out of 128 campuses have released their summer programs.

Executive Director Michelle Walker-Davis released the following statement: 

This week, the DC Public Charter School received five proposals from groups seeking to open public charter schools in Washington, DC. If approved, the schools would open in the school year 2022-23.

Watch the February 2021 Vlog.

Established in 1996, the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) is an independent government agency of the District of Columbia led by a seven-member volunteer board.

President Joe Biden signed a bill on June 17, 2021 establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.  Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States.  To view a list of schools that will observe the holiday.  

Watch the December 2020 Vlog.